Movement workshop at Vintage House
Sonoma Index-Tribune, March 3, 2022
A picture is worth a thousand words, they say. But what happens when we translate that picture into movement? Find out March 11, when local dancer, choreographer and movement educator Jessica Fudim will explore the possibilities with participants of all physical abilities in her two-hour workshop, Memories in Motion.
Memories in Motion, “unlocks the heart, using photographs and physical language,” said Fudim in a press release about the workshop. Participants will be asked to bring a photograph from their personal past, “a snapshot of a moment that they’d like to delve into.” After a brief warm-up, Fudim will guide participants through a process of embodying photographic details through simple movements and gestures of their own creation.
“Working with abstract movement frees us from the expectations of creating recognizable ‘dance’ choreography,” said Fudim. “For example, a wristwatch in a photo may become physicalized by circling your thumb around your belly button; or, a lock of hair, blown by the wind, may transform into a sharp exhale that tips your ribcage over to one side.”
Vintage House Program Coordinator Katie DeJongh sees Memories in Motion as an opportunity for people to viscerally connect to their personal histories. “One of my favorite parts of working at Vintage House is getting to know our members; everyone has a story to tell,” said DeJongh in the release. “Jessica’s workshop is a great opportunity for people to look deeper into themselves and their past.”
Participants will work in small groups and all together, taking turns to share their brief movement explorations in a “nonjudgmental environment.” Fudim refers to this layer of the process as a “forum for social intimacy.”
“The vulnerability of being seen and heard and then holding space for another - it’s a beautiful and brave act,” said Fudim. “What can I learn about you by learning your movement? And what comes up for you when you watch me echo your movement back to you?”
The workshop is designed to accommodate people of varying physical abilities. “We are communicating with our body language all the time. In this workshop, we are just digging into that physicality from new angles,” Fudim said. “So, you have all the tools that you need.” Chairs will be provided and the event is wheelchair accessible.
The workshop is March 11, 10 a.m. to noon at Vintage House Senior Center, 264 First St. E. The workshop will close with beverages, light snacks and conversation on the Vintage House patio. $20 Vintage House members/$40 non-members. Register at vintagehouse.org, or 707-996-0311. Enrollment is limited to eight participants.
Memories in Motion, “unlocks the heart, using photographs and physical language,” said Fudim in a press release about the workshop. Participants will be asked to bring a photograph from their personal past, “a snapshot of a moment that they’d like to delve into.” After a brief warm-up, Fudim will guide participants through a process of embodying photographic details through simple movements and gestures of their own creation.
“Working with abstract movement frees us from the expectations of creating recognizable ‘dance’ choreography,” said Fudim. “For example, a wristwatch in a photo may become physicalized by circling your thumb around your belly button; or, a lock of hair, blown by the wind, may transform into a sharp exhale that tips your ribcage over to one side.”
Vintage House Program Coordinator Katie DeJongh sees Memories in Motion as an opportunity for people to viscerally connect to their personal histories. “One of my favorite parts of working at Vintage House is getting to know our members; everyone has a story to tell,” said DeJongh in the release. “Jessica’s workshop is a great opportunity for people to look deeper into themselves and their past.”
Participants will work in small groups and all together, taking turns to share their brief movement explorations in a “nonjudgmental environment.” Fudim refers to this layer of the process as a “forum for social intimacy.”
“The vulnerability of being seen and heard and then holding space for another - it’s a beautiful and brave act,” said Fudim. “What can I learn about you by learning your movement? And what comes up for you when you watch me echo your movement back to you?”
The workshop is designed to accommodate people of varying physical abilities. “We are communicating with our body language all the time. In this workshop, we are just digging into that physicality from new angles,” Fudim said. “So, you have all the tools that you need.” Chairs will be provided and the event is wheelchair accessible.
The workshop is March 11, 10 a.m. to noon at Vintage House Senior Center, 264 First St. E. The workshop will close with beverages, light snacks and conversation on the Vintage House patio. $20 Vintage House members/$40 non-members. Register at vintagehouse.org, or 707-996-0311. Enrollment is limited to eight participants.